Circumcision I Did Not Consent Petition

Millions of American men were subjected to a medical procedure that they NEVER would have chosen for themselves – If they had the choice. Instead, circumcision was forced on them by well meaning but misinformed parents. Doctors also play a role by providing parents with misleading and false information about the alleged benefits of circumcision.

With our petition, we seek to inform legislative leaders in the NYS Legislature that many circumcised men are extremely dissatisfied with current circumcision practices. We want new health care polices that will better protect baby boys with reasonable legislative changes. Many legislators underestimate the number of people opposed to circumcision. Our petition will help to change that.

The Main Goals of our Petition.

1. We seek to improve the parental consent process for circumcision. Such an achievement would strengthen parental rights by affording them to the opportunity to make an fully informed decision. We want to make sure parents understand the risks, complications, and ethical issues surrounding the genital cutting of babies. We believe once parents have a full understanding of circumcision, many will choose NOT to circumcise their son.

2. Mandatory reporting of complications from circumcision. We would seek to enhance record-keeping & reporting requirements by doctors and hospitals for circumcision related issues. Unfortunately there are many instances of doctors performing “botched” circumcisions that get “swept under the rug.” Doctors want to cover up potential malpractice claims. Parents want to spare their son embarrassment. Many men are forced to live with the excessive scarring or the shame of disfigured genitals for the rest of their life. The American Academy of Pediatrics noted in their 2012 Circumcision Policy Statement that there is a lack of data on complications. They state, “The true incidence of complications after newborn circumcision is unknown.” Medical personnel performing circumcisions would be required to report all adverse complications caused both directly and indirectly by circumcision to the Department of Health.

3. Reduce or Eliminate Medicaid Funding for Infant Circumcision.

With skyrocketing costs for health insurance, and overburdened State Medicaid programs, health system administrators are struggling to provide low income stakeholders with adequate medical care. Yet we continue to waste millions of dollars on needless circumcisions. The American Academy of Pediatrics stated, “data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In the case of circumcision, in which there are potential benefits and risks, yet the procedure is not essential to the child’s current well-being.” Eighteen states in the U.S. have already dropped medicaid coverage for infant circumcision for this very reason. Intact babies have less complications and shorter hospital stays.